Posts

Best defenders in the world 2024

Image
  1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) If there's one defender in world football you'd have picked for your money-no-object team over the last 10 years or so, Van Dijk is your man. The towering Liverpool centre-back was one of the trailblazers of modern defending as the world realised big men at the back didn't necessarily have to be technically limited players. VVD remains the benchmark for modern defending. 2. Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid) Rudiger is a perfect blend of the old and the new. He's a physical brute with the ability to slam strikers into submission, as well as delicately dance out of the defence with the ball at his feet. The former Chelsea ace has built himself into the mainframe of the Real Madrid winning machine and is likely to remain there for a few more years to come. 3. William Saliba (Arsenal) After spending the first three years of his Arsenal career out on loan, William Saliba returned to the Emirates Stadium with a bang and has, arguably, become the m...

Top 10 richest football club owners

Image
  1. Sheikh Mansour (Manchester City) The 53-year-old billionaire holds stakes in a variety of football clubs through City Football Group, including current Premier League winners Manchester City F.C. He is the richest football club owner in the world, with an individual reported net worth of $30 billion. The City Football Group owns Manchester City, of which Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group has 86.21% shares. 2. Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Manchester United) Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a British billionaire and industrialist, known for his leadership of the multinational chemical powerhouse Ineos Group. In December 2023, Manchester United announced that it had entered into an agreement under which Chairman of INEOS, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will acquire 25 per cent of Manchester United’s Class B shares and up to 25 per cent of Manchester United’s Class A shares and provide an additional $300 million intended to enable future investment in Old Trafford.  The former chemical engineer has a 25% stake...

Top 10 most expensive football trophies in the world

Image
  1. FIFA World Cup Trophy The FIFA World Cup Trophy is arguably the most prestigious award in football. It stands at 36.8 cm tall and weighs 6.1 kg, made of 18-carat gold. The base features two layers of malachite, a semi-precious stone. Created by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga in 1974, its current estimated value is around $20 million. This is not just due to the gold content but also because of its historical and symbolic significance. 2. Copa Libertadores Trophy The Copa Libertadores Trophy is the premier club trophy in South America, introduced in 1960 and contested by 18 clubs. Made of sterling silver with silver-coated bronze, it is valued at $8.5 million. 3. UEFA Europa League Trophy The UEFA Europa League Trophy is awarded to the winner of Europe’s second-tier club competition. It features a silver and yellow base and costs $4.5 million. 4. FA Cup Trophy The FA Cup Trophy is awarded in the oldest football competition in England. Arsenal was the first team to claim it and...